Frictional Resistance Between Main Cable and Saddle for Suspension Bridges. II: Interlayer Slip of Strands

Abstract

The capability to accurately evaluate the frictional resistance between the main cable and saddle is essential for the design and evaluation of suspension bridges. In this paper, an analytical model is developed to predict the frictional resistance between the main cable and saddle based on slipping compatibility conditions and is validated against model test data. The relative slip between adjacent strands is considered. The development process of the frictional resistance is analyzed. The development process of the total frictional resistance between the main cable and saddle can be divided into three stages: (1) the nearly linear growing stage, (2) the slow growing stage, and (3) the steady ultimate stage. Incorporating vertical frictional plates into the saddle trough increases the frictional resistance between the main cable and saddle but aggravates the unevenness of the distribution of the single strand frictional resistance.